Hair-drier.



F. N. HUNNEWELL.

HAIR DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1909.

961,498., Patented June 14, 1910.

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FREDERICK 1\T. HUNNEWELL, OF MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HORACE W. MERWIN, JR.

HAIR-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK N. HUN- NEWELL, residing at Mamaroneck, lVestchester county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hair- Driers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hair driers and it consists in the arrangement of a base and a .drying frame with supports and connections so combined that they present a convenient means of supporting the hair and holding the free ends away from the body, and so spread out that the air has ready access to it. In addition, the details of construction which permit the ready collapse of the device into asmall and conveniently packed article, are material points in its favor.

Figure 1, represents a device embodying my invention adjusted upon the person of a user. Fig. 2, is a view of such device, as it appears when collapsed. Fig. 3, is a View of such a device, slightly modified, as it appears when ready for use.

The main base of the device consists of a wire frame, oblong in form and preferably constructed by twisting two wires together at the center 10, (or two parts of one wire), then bending them obliquely from the center line and, at points equidistant from that line, again obliquely, to lines preferably parallel with the center line, as at 11, 12, continuing the wires in these lines for an aggregate distance about or slightly less than the width of a persons shoulders. Then the wires are turned inward slightly and then bent at right angles to the central line and joined. WVithin the lines of the end crosspieces 14;, I secure additional wires 15, run ning from side to side of the outline wires, and I prefer to add fiat braces 16, to bear smoothly upon the shoulders of the wearer and to strengthen the base, but many of these details of construction are not absolutely essential and other forms could be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

On the cross-pieces 14, preferably, I mount supports 17 rectangular in shape, with the extremities hinged to the crosspieces of the base by being turned around them, and provided with inwardly projecting toes 18, adapted to engage with inner cross pieces 15, to prevent the supports from turning too far over when erected, thus constituting stops therefor.

To the braces 16, or some other part, I link the shoulder wires 19. They may be of spring metal, as shown in Fig. 2, and have ring ends to prevent them from catching in the clothing, or they may be formed as shown in Fig. 3, adapted to go about the shoulders and have the ends looped together.

On the cross-bars of the supports, I mount the frame, proper, preferably a wire, bent to form loops 20, turned about the cross-bars of the supports 17, as at 21, and extending inwardly for such a distance that the ends 22, of the looped pieces will extend past the ends 23, of the other looped piece. On the ends 22, (I might put one on one end 22, and another on an end 23), I secure sleeves 24:, through which, respectively, I pass the ends of 23, or vice versa, and those ends of 23, I, preferably, enlarge by flattening them, or turning them over upon the wire or in some other way, so that they will not readily pass back through the sleeves but will hold the wires together.

The looped pieces described, are of such a length that when in place, with the supports standing vertically, the frame will reach well across and preferaly beyond the shoulders of the wearer, in order to permit the hair to be widely spread that it may dry more quickly.

When the device is to be used, the loops 20, are seized and drawn apart. That will result in turning the supports 17, to an upright position and in carrying the frame, composed of the looped pieces 20, 22, 23, away from the base. The toes 18, are so formed that they will make contact with wires 15, when or just after the supports reach an upright position. I prefer it should be just after, since, if they have passed center (beyond an exactly vertical position) they will not be so easily forced backward by a weight upon the loop-frame pieces. The friction of wires in sleeves will hold the frame pieces extended, to some eX- tent, and prevent the supports from falling inward and downward, but the other provision for their holding is the better. Having thus opened the device, the user places it upon her shoulders, brings the shoulder wires 19, over the shoulders and under the arms, in which positions they will be retained by their natural resilience, or, if they have the form of 19, their ends may be looped together to hold them in place. Either way, the base and frame will be held upon the shoulders of the user, with the frame 22, 23, at a suitable distance from the body, and the hair may be draped over it and so spread apart as to dry rapidly. Meanwhile it is not against the clothing and the liability of wetting that is avoided. Not only so but, being supported away from the body, the air is permitted to circulate underneath as well as through the hair and its drying is very much accelerated. WVhen the hair has dried, the device is removed from the person and the looped ends of the frame are pressed inward. This results in turning the supports down on their hinges until they lie flat upon the base. The wires 19, are then swung inward over the base and we have a fiat thin article which may be readily stored in a bureau drawer or packed in a suit case, being therefore of very convenient form for storing or transportation. Unless provision for thus reducing the space occupied by the device were made, it would be of very slight acceptability, but its practicability in use and the ease with which it may be rendered conveniently portable makes it very attractive.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

l. A hair drier composed of a base, a drying frame, supports hinged to said base and said drying frame and shoulder wires, adapted to secure the device upon the person of the user, all substantially as set forth.

2. A hair-drier composed of a frame, supports extending therefrom, a drying frame supported thereon and composed of two parts, one slidably secured to the other,

4. A hair drier composed of a base, a drying frame in two portions, one slidably secured to the other, supports hinged to said base and said drying frame, and shoulder wires adapted to secure the device upon the person of the user, all substantially as set forth.

5. In a hair drier, a wire base with longitudinal wires and cross pieces, supports hinged thereto and adapted, as described, to turn down thereon, and provided with toes arranged as described, whereby they will engage portions of the base, a hair supporting frame in two parts, sleeves on the wires of the frame, projecting portions which extend through said sleeves, hinges uniting the frame to the supports and shoulder wires, all combined substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of October 1909.

FREDK. N. 'HUNNEWELL.

Witnesses:

CEoIL STONE, JAMES J. SLATOR. 

